Pavement



Patented Dec. 22, 1936 ATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to street pavings comprising a layer of rigidmaterial divided and spaced at intervals to divide the layer intosections, and expansion joint strips inserted in these interveningspaces to provide for contraction and expansion for the rigid material.

Heretofore expansion strips have been provided with a longitudinalmedial tongue and groove coextensive with the length of the strips, andwith the tongue and groove deformed from the strips. Strips of thisconstruction are difficult to stack and handle, and frequently thetongue and groove portion is injured.

It is the purpose of the present invention to construct as separatearticles of manufacture a base strip of conventional form provided withone or more recesses, and tongue and groove pieces which may at the timebe inserted in the recesses. Or the base sheet may be used without theinsertion of any tongue and groove pieces, or the recesses of the basestrip may be refilled with the pieces (or similar pieces) cut therefromin providing the recesses. Accordingly there is produced a novel andimproved expansion joint strip which may be selectively used for variousexpansion joint forms.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of an expansion joint embodying thepresent invention;

Figure 2 is a. cross sectional View of a paving structure in which theexpansion joint strip is inserted; and

Figure 3 is another cross-sectional view of a paving structure in whichthe expansion joint strip is inserted.

Referring to the drawing, numeral 2 designates a strip of moldablematerial, such as rubber or the like, provided with one or more medialrecesses 3, which may be molded therein or cut out after the strip isformed. These recesses are preferably elongated longitudinally and anydesired number of them may be formed in the strip.

For insertion within the recesses of the strip elongated tongue andgroove sections 4, separably formed, are provided. They may be moldedfrom the same material as is used in making strips 2 or they may be ofany other material. The sides of the tongue and groove sections mayadvantageously be provided with flanges or ribs 5 to engage withcorresponding recesses 6 in the expansion strips in order to engage andbetter secure the sections to the strips. 1

With the tongue and groove sections fitted in the recessed strips, thecomplete expansion unit is adapted to be inserted between concrete slabsl and 8 to separate same and allow for contraction and expansion.

Perforations 9 are provided in the tongue and groove sections toaccommodate transverse rods which are commonly embedded to engage theends of the concrete sections.

While I have shown one preferred embodiment to illustrate the invention,it is not to be understood that there is any limitation as to details ofconstruction as these may be changed without departing from the spiritof the invention.

I claim:

An expansion joint strip comprising a base sheet provided with one ormore elongated recesses, and filling sections for said recesses, saidfilling sections projecting outwardly of the plane of the strip andbeing separate from the strip and tongue and groove joints formedbetween said base sheet and the filling sections, said filling sectionsbeing of substantially the same structure and thickness as the basesheet.

WALLACE C. FISCHER.

